Automatic lubricated plug valve



Allg 28, 1951 o. JAcoBsEN 2,565,609

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATED PLUG VALVE Filed Feb. 26, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 swag www

AI'TORNEYS Aug. 28, 1951 o. .JAcOBsl-:N 2,565,609

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATED Puis VALVE Filed Feb. 2e, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L34 52 INVENTOR OYSTEIN J'HCOBSEN BY M 'l' ATTORNEYS Aug. 28, 1951 o. JAcoBsEN 2,565,609

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATED PLUG VALVE Filed Feb. 26, i945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug- 28, 1951 o. JAcoBsEN 2,565,609

AUTOMATIC I .UBRICATED PLUG VALVE Filed Feb. 26, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [40 *wu-TNTOR OYSTEIN JACOBSEN ATTORNEYS mi L Patented Aug. 28, 1951 AUTOMATIC LBRICATEJD PLUG OysteinJacpbsen, Montgomery County, Ohio,` assignor t 'The ,Duriron Company, jInc., Ohio, a corporation of`New lYorkM Dayton,

. Appncation Eebruaryze, 1945, sefia,1 No. 579,743 `3 Claims. (Cl. 251-93)' This invention relates to `plus .oook valveeand, particularly, to valves of that type which `have associated therewith lubricating means. More particularly still, thieinveniion o oneerris deteohf able lubricant chambers for continuously supplying lubricant to a'plug type valve. 4

In mug type valves tue/plug .is generally-tapered and ts withina tapered recessinthe valve body so that augood sealis had between the said plug and body for preventing theleakase of iheoootrolled fluid.

A oloee ttius ztaper of the type .mentioned is Subject to sticking Eand.seizure especially if the plugremains in one ,position ffor e loris ,Qeriod 0f time. Also, such valves are dceinrndonly used for handling corrosive fluids or for 1f1 uds Whichinay deposit a Sediment within ,the valve .b .edy which inhibits the rotation of Lthe valveplug.

Accordingly, it isdesirable to maintain the oo ntiguous surface of the valve plug andbody in a smooth, close fitting and substantially friction free relationship. I have found that this is best accomplished by supplying lubricant to thesaid surface through `grooves in the valve plug which communicate with lubricant reservoirs located in the lower vportion of thevalve body or in the cap plateon the top o f the Valve body Aor acombination thereof. The lubricant is preferably supplied to the said grooves under `pressure so that it thoroughly lubricates the surfaces of the plug and bodygas the plug is rotated. y

Whenplug valves are employed for handling corrosive fluids the body thereof is `generally formed of a substance which is highly' resistant to the action of the fluid. Such materials may comprise unmachinable substances such as silicon bearing cast iron. Since Vsuch valve bodies ,are substantially unmachinable, it is desirable ythat the lubricant passageways .and chambers be former eitherin thevalve cap plate or in a fitting which is attached to the valve body by a means which does not require excessive or nemachine work to be done.

It is a primary object of the present invention to providea lubricating means for a plug Atype valve in which theflubricant reservoir is a unit separate from the valve body.

It is another object vto provide @lubricating chamber for a plug type valve which includes yielding means for continuously supplying lubri cant 'to the said valve.

It is still another object to provide a rl u1c ricat ing Vmeans including` a l pressure reservoir for Aa plug type valve in whichtheescapeof fluids from 55 the valve to the lubricant chamber is prevented.v It is'still'anotherpbject `to provide a pressure lubricant chamber for a plug type valve which includes fa tell tale indicating the amount of lubricant remaining within the chamber.

vIt is 'another object to provide va lubricated valve having a cleanout passage so that the valvev easing may readilybe cleaned out.

It is another object to provide a lubricating mechanism' for a plug typev valve' in which the lubricating mechanism is an entirely separate unit from the body of the valveand contains a ijlllingmeans and alubricant storage means.

Iliese and otherobjects and .advantages will becomemore apparent upon reference' to'the accompanying drawingsin which:

Figure A1 is a vertical section 4through a plug valve embodying the presentinvention;

vFigure 2,7 i`s a; plan view partially broken away Qf'the valve of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of a valve similar to that ofEigures 1 and 2 but showingfan auxiliary lubricantl'sfupplying passage;`

Figures i and '5 are fragmentaryl views 'of Va plug valve showing x a self-contained 4lubricant pressure storage chamber within the valve body;

Figure 6 isa view vsimilar to Figures 4 andj5 but showing va lubricant storagewcharnber which comprises a tell tale;

`Figure '7 is a view sirnilar'to Figure B butshowe ing the lubricant chamber exhausted andthetell tale in a position to be used asa plugloosener;

Figure 8 is e vertoel `eeetiou.ih 1.o1.1,e ii e' .plus valve having e mouiileuformjof lubricant-.Storage chamber attachedvt the bottom thereof andis indicated bythe'liner on `ligure 9; Figure 9' is a plan View over th'evalve olftl'ig-y ure 8;

Eigure 10 is alfragmentary View showing a modied 4,arrangueinent of the l-lubricant storage chamber of Figure 8;

' Figure 1 1 is a' 'fragmentary .view lof iheilovver portionof thevalvelbody having a inordiiiedforrri ofv .Iubitieerli Chamber..etieeheuthereto (andA endicated by A thegline tl l- -l I on Figure 1(27; Y Figure 1 2 'is a .SQCQB Lon theuline V l2f-I2-of Figure (1 1 f ehowiue more .in 'detail the :luloreerit ohemberfthereof.:

,Figures leendliaite views illustraurigr moulded constructions of the lubricant, chamberpfl'igure 12; and `.Figure leise. fraementervview.Similar,to 4Figure 11 ,but sh'ovviue e,,midinedsmeiho,dC of atiaeiiA ing the Vc hgunber nto thevalvebody.

liefefriiie to figure .the .valve oomriisee ,e

atascos body I which has a passage |2 therethrough which is intersected substantially at right angles by a conical bore I4. The conical bore I4 is adapted for receiving the conical plug I0 which has a passage I8 therethrough adapted for registration with the valve passage I2.

The plug I6 has a stem 20 thereon which terminates in the wrench flats 22 at its upper end. The stem 20 extends through packing generally indicated at 24 which is retained within a bore in the cap plate 26 which is secured to the valve body by means of a ring 28 and the bolts 30. The packing is compressed into sealing relationship with the plate 26 and stem 20 by means of a gland 32 which is urged downwardly by a protuberance 34 on the plate 36 which is secured to the plate 26 by the bolts 38.

The plate 26 comprises a which is threaded to receive a force screw 42 which forces lubricant from the bore 40 through the hrizontal passage 44 and thence through the vertical passage 46 into the annular space 48 between the under surface of the plate 26 and the upper surface of the plug I6. A gasket 50 clamped between the plate 26 and the upper surface of the valve body |I| effectively seals against leakage of the'lubricant to the outside of the valve on one side of the plate 26 while the packing 24 effectively seals on the other side of the said plate.

The plug I6 has the lubricant grooves 52 therein which communicate with the annular space 48 and also with a chamber 54 in the bottom of the valve body I0. The grooves 52 are so located on the surface of the plug that rotation of the said plug will not bring the grooves into communication with the passage I2.

The chamber 54 has an aperture 56 in the bottom thereof which receives a hollow, headed screw 58 which has the threaded portion thereof extending below the valve body and into engagement with a nut 60. A washer 62 lies between the lower surface of the body I0 and supper surface of the nut 60 in order to prevent leakage of lubricant from the valve. The lower surface of the chamber 54 may be formed into a plurality of ribs 64 which provide a passage around the head of the screw and through the aperture 56 through which dirt and used lubricant may be expelled from the valve casing when the nut 60 is removed.

The screw 58 has a bore 66 therein within which is reciprocably mounted a piston 68 which is urged toward the upper end of the bore by a spring 'l0 engaged by the nut 60. The bore 66 may be partially closed as at 'I2 in order to stop the piston 68 at a predetermined point.

,Referring to Figure 3, this view illustrates a. modied lubricant filling arrangement wherein the fitting 'I4 adapted for cooperation with a grease gun is attached to the plate 26 and com municates through a horizontal passage 'I6 and a vertical passage 'I8 with the annular chamber 48.

In order` to insure that the plug I6 is not rotated beyond its full on and full off positions so that the grooves 52 are not brought into register with the passage I2, the stop lug 80 may be provided on the plate 36 so that the wrench flats 22 engage the said lug and stop the valve plug in both directions of rotation.

In operation, the force screw 42 may be removed from the bore 40 and a stick of lubricant inserted therein. Thereafter the force screw 42 is replaced in the threaded bore and threaded inwardlyso that the lubricant is forced through the passages CII i horizontal bore 40Y Y 44 and 46 into the chamber 48 and then is passed through the grooves 52 into thev chamber 54. From the chamber 54 the lubricant passed into the bore 66 and moves the piston 68 downwardly against the thrust of the spring |0. When the spring i0 is compressed, a supply of lubricant for a considerable period of time is available to lubricate the contiguous surfaces of the plug and body.

Should it be desired to flush out the valve body, the nut may be removed and a supply of lubricant passed through the valve either by the force screw 42 or by injecting lubricant through the tting 14, Thereafter, the nut 60 is replaced and normal operation is resumed.

Referring to Figure 4, a modified form of lubricant chamber is shown. In Figure 4 the valve body I0 is provided with an enlarged chamber 80 at the lower end thereof which receives a cylinder 82'having reciprocably mounted therein a piston 84 which is urged toward the open end 86 of the cylinder by a spring 88. The cylinder 82 is adapted for receiving lubricant in a manner similar to the chamber shown on the valve of Figure l but has the additional advantage of requiring no machine work whatsoever on the valve body and no attaching screws or gaskets. The cylinder 82 is shown as partly lled with the spring 88 somewhat compressed and the piston 84 moved rightwardly from the open end 86. As in the case of the bore 66 of the screw 58, the open end 8B may be somewhat restricted in order to retain the piston 84 within the said cylinder.

In Figure 5 is illustrated another modified form of lubricant pressure chamber in which the valve body I0 has a recess 90 in the bottom thereof adapted for loosely receiving the cylinder Q2 in which a piston 84 is urged upwardly by a spring 96. This chamber has the advantage of having a somewhat greater capacity than that shownin Figures 1 or 4.

Referring to Figure 6, the valve body I0 has a cylindrical recess therein which slidably receives a piston 98. The piston 98 is provided with a cup leather washer |00 and there is a central member having a head |02 and a tail rod |04. A spring |06 bears against the underneath surface of the piston and urges the same together with the portions |02 and |04 upwardly in order to displace lubricant from the recess. The tail rod |04 is adapted to serve as a tell tale indicating the amount of lubricant yet to be discharged from the recess.

Referring to Figure 7, it will be obvious that the tail rod |04 and portion |02 are also adapted to serve as a mechanical plug loosener, a light hammer blow on the lower end of the rod |04 being sufficient to break the plug loose from its seat.

In Figure 8 is illustrated a modified form of lubricant chamber attached to the lower portion of a valve body by a hollow screw which includes a check Valve. The lubricant fitting comprises a body |08 which is internally threaded to receive the externally threaded force screw I Ill within which is reciprocably mounted a piston ||2. The piston II2 is urged rightwardly in the cylinder ||0 by a compression spring H4. On the opposite end of the body |08 is attached a fitting IIB adapted' to receive a grease gun so that lubricant may be injected into the interior of the body |08.

' The body |08 is engaged by a screw ||8 which extends through an aperture |20 in the bottom of the valve body I0. A gasket |22 provides for effectively sealing theV joint between the valve body I0 and the lubricant fitting body |08.

, In 'order yto prevent the rio-wref fluids frcni'thj valve body into the lubricant fitting a bail check '22| is provided in the @entrai bere lzfs er nie screw ||8. Y

`It, willbe noted that since the lubricant i'nlt and. the lubricant pressure storage chamber are "oth in the iitting on the bottom of the valve, the groovesj52 need not 'extend to the upper ledge of the 'plug 16 but stop 'somewhat short thereof.

As before, the valve `stem has the opposed flats 22 which engage a lug |'28Y`on the packing gland which is secured to the valve by the bolts |32. v

Y In Figure 10 is illustrated 4a modification of the lubricant inlet and storage chamber l:|08 wherein the cylinder |34 is loosely mounted in the bore |36 of the body |08 and the left end of the said bore is closed by the screw plug |38. In the construction shown in Figure 10 lubricant is injected through the fitting ||6 into the bore |36 and passes into the cylinder |34 to the left hand open end thereof.

Referring to Figures 1l and 12 there is shown still another modied form of lubricant receiving and pressure storage unit for attaching to the lower part of the valve body l0. The device comprises a body |46 having a pair of horizontal bores |42 and |44 therein which communicate through a passage |46. The body also comprises a vertical bore |48 through which the bolt 50 passes. The bolt |50 extends through an aperture |52 in the bottom of the valve body l0 and has on its lower end a nut |54 between which and the body l0 is clamped the lubricant tting |40. The gaskets |56 serve effectively to seal against leakage of lubricant to the outside of the iitting.

The bore |58 in the upper end of the screw |50 is intersected by a transverse bore |60 so that communication is had with the bore |48. The bore |48 in turn is connected by a passage |62 with the passage |46 and also with the lubricant iitting |64.

The bore |42 is threaded and receives the force screw |66 which is adapted for forcing stick lubricant through the passage |46 to the bore |44 where it moves the piston |68 against the thrust of the spring |10. The piston |68 comprises the tail rod |12 which extends out through the apertured plug |14 and serves as a tell tale to indicate the amount o f lubricant yet to be discharged into the valve.

Figure 13 illustrates a modiiied arrangement wherein the lubricant body |16 is provided with an end cap |18 so that the machining of the lubricant tting is somewhat simplied. The cap |18 may be secured to the body |16 by means of a hollow cap screw |80 and a seal effected between the cap and body by a gasket |92. The hollow cap screw has a lubricant tting |84 secured in the head end thereof and communication is had with the various lubricant passageways through the longitudinal bore |86 and the transverse bore |88.

In Figure 14 is illustrated a construction similar to that shown in Figure 13 except that the lubricant fitting |90 is threaded into the plug |92 in the end of the bore |44. The plug |82 comprises a cylindrical member which reciprocably receives the piston |94 which is urged toward the open end of the said cylinder by a spring |96.

The cap |18 is secured to the body |16 by the cap screw |98 and communication is had between the various lubricant passageways by the transverse bore 200i'a'nd 'the longitudinal bore 202 of the said 'cap screw. Y Y

In Figure 15 is illustrated a vsomewhat modi:- ed arrangementl for securing the lubricant body |40 to the valve body |0. In this ligure thesecuring means comprises Vthe screw 204 which passesjthrou'gh the body |40 arid is engaged by `a nut 206.- A clearance is provided between 'the screfw 204and the bore |48 and also between the upper `lend of the screw 4and the valve body il at 208 so that the 'w 'of lubricant to 'the valve body from the lubricant fitting is substantiiafll'y unrestricted. j I

`It wili be understood that I Idesire to comprebend within my invention Ysuch modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

I claim:

1. A lubricated plug valve comprising a body, a plug rotatable therein, a plate for retaining said plug in position in said body, a cylinder detachably mounted in said body opposite said plate, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder. a spring for urging said piston toward one end of said cylinder, a nut adapted for engaging the other end of said cylinder for clamping the same to said body and also for closing said other end and for engaging and compressing said spring, passage means in said plug and said plate communicating with said cylinder for conveying lubricant to lubricate the contiguous surfaces of said body and plug and means in said plate for admitting a supply of lubricant into said passage means thereby to load said cylinder.

2. A lubricated plug valve comprising a body. a plug rotatable therein, a plate for retaining said plug in position in said body, a cylinder mounted in said body opposite said plate. a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a spring for urging said piston toward one end of said cylinder, means for detachably securing said cylinder to said body, said means also closing the cylinder and engaging and compressing said spring, passage means in said plug communicating with said cylinder for conveying lubricant to lubricate the contiguous surfaces of the said body and plug, and means for admitting lubricant into the space between the plug and the piston to force the piston against said spring, said space being in communication with said lubricant-conveying passage means.

3. A lubricated plug valve comprising a body, a plug rotatable therein, a plate for retaining said plug in position in said body, a cylinder f mounted in said body opposite said plate, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder. a spring for urging said piston toward one end of said cylinder, the end of the cylinder remote from said body being threaded, a hollow nut tted over said threaded end of the cylinder and engaging the threads thereof, said nut being solid at one end for closing the cylinder and for engaging said spring, means for admitting lubricant into the space between the plug and the piston to force the piston against said spring, and passage means in said plug communicating with said space for conveying lubricant to lubricate the contiguous surfaces of said body and plug, said piston and spring serving to apply continuous pressure on the lubricant as it moves through said passage means.

OYS'PEIN JACOBSEN.

(References on following` page) i REFERENCES crrEn Number 41,400,647 1,720,523 1,937,122 1,942,031 1,944,995 1,998,029 2,058,747 2,065,726

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Westinghouse Dec. 20, 1921 MacGregor July 9, 1929 Leach Nov.28, 1933 Le Duc Jan. 2, 1934 10 Nordstrom Jan. 30, 1934 Simpson et al Apr. 16, 1935 Wilkins Oct. 27, 1936 Nordstrom Dec. 29, 1936 Nordstrom Feb. 9, 1937 15 y Number Number Name Date Jacobsen Aug. 8, 1939 Aikman Jan. 23, 1940 Kerr May 5, 1942 Volpin Oct. 20, 1942 Volpin Nov. 3, 1942 Mueller June 8, 1943 Volpin Oct. 19, 1943 Volpn Oct. 17, 1944 Volpin Jan. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 5, 1930 Great Britain Jan. 27, 1939 

